‘Vision 2030 needs gallant spirit’

THERE is need to evoke the spirit of selflessness that propelled the liberation war struggle, leading to the attainment of independence if Zimbabwe is to attain Vision 2030, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Vision 2030 seeks to transform Zimbabwe into a middle income economy.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently said Zimbabwe was going through the primary stages of a radical economic transformation that would see the country becoming a middle-income economy by 2030.

According to the World Bank, a middle-income economy is one with a gross national income ranging between $1 005 and $12 235 per capita.

Currently, the World Bank classifies Zimbabwe as a low-income economy.

Addressing more than 1 000 tertiary institution students at Chimoio Shrines, Mozambique, on Independence Day, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Cde Prisca Mupfumira said for Vision 2030 to be attained, there is need to inculcate a spirit of selflessness among Zimbabweans.

“It is sad that we are having individuals who want to work for self aggrandisement at the expense of the national vision. We are going through tough times as a country, yes, but we need to refocus and evoke the spirit of selflessness that was part of the liberation war struggle for independence to attain Vision 2030 of being a middle income economy.

“We need to emulate the spirit of sacrifice that led thousands of men and women who are lying here (Chimoio). They never thought about themselves as individuals, but as children of Zimbabwe. That is the kind of spirit we want if we are to succeed as a nation,” said Cde Mupfumira.

Students who visited the shrine thanked the Government for affording them the opportunity to witness the callousness of the colonial Ian Smith regime.

ZOU student representative body member Mr Brandobn Chombo said the visit to Chimoio was an eye opener.

“This was a great initiative. It really helped us come to terms with the callousness of the colonial Ian Smith regime. These are the things that every citizen, especially the youth should be aware of because it shows us our history as a people and accordingly gives insight on how to traverse our way into the future,” he said.

The Chimoio visit by the tertiary students was part of the Independence Day commemoration held across the country on Wednesday.

Chimoio Shrines is home to more than 1 000 bodies buried in mass graves following the brutal massacre perpetrated by the Rhodesian Security Forces on November 23, 1977.

It left thousands of freedom fighters, innocent women and children dead and thousands others wounded.